The artwork entitled “Mstislav’s duel with Rededia”, created by Nicholas Roerich in 1943, is a battle painting executed on canvas using tempera. The piece falls under the Symbolism art movement and has dimensions of 57 x 123 cm. The artwork captures a historic duel scene, presumably between the characters Mstislav and Rededia, against a fantastical and vividly colored backdrop.
The central focus of the artwork is the intense struggle between two warriors, Mstislav and Rededia, locked in a combat that exudes both physical and symbolic significance. The duel takes place on a rugged hilltop, their contorted bodies conveying the exertion and ferocity of their confrontation. The vividly hued sky, dominated by a striking pink and purple gradient, contrasts with the somber intensity of their battle. In the background, one can observe a castle-like structure perched on a cliff by the sea, and distant figures gathered, possibly as witnesses to the duel. The landscape and architecture are rendered in a stylized manner, characteristic of the Symbolism movement, blending fantasy with an emotional narrative. The overall composition conjures a sense of timeless myth and heroism, emblematic of Roerich’s artistic vision.
